Arthur row overshadows Aussies’ buildup

AFP, LONDON

“The Australians are fighters,” he said. “They’re not going to lie down and die at any stage, and we had to fight equally as hard, if not harder, to get ourselves in position to win the game, and then go that one step further and actually win it.”

“It’s going to be exactly the same this week and we’re steeling ourselves for that,” Prior added.

The first Test was also full of umpiring controversies and highlighted how just four men — Pakistan’s Aleem Dar, Sri Lanka’s Kumar Dharmasena, South Africa’s Marais Erasmus and New Zealand’s Tony Hill — are currently eligible to control Ashes matches.

As has long been scheduled, Dharmasena will again be standing at Lord’s, with Erasmus moving from third umpire to an on-field role. Hill takes over the replay duties, while Dar will sit the match out.